Your databases are pivotal to the day-to-day productivity and overall success of your organization, but they’re also very complex systems with many moving parts. To keep them well-managed you need support that can handle the normal, everyday processes as well as one-off issues and emergencies.

To ensure everything runs efficiently and that any errors that arise have minimal impact, don’t make these common mistakes:

Failure to Standardize Processes

Standardizing processes not only makes your team more efficient by making sure everyone is on the same page, it also ensures the relevant knowledge to keep things maintained is shared. With multiple people sharing the know-how, serious problems and downtime can be dealt with efficiently or (preferably) avoided altogether.

Inadequate Familiarity with Technology and Ecosystem

It’s not uncommon for companies to work with freelancers or outside consultants for the support of their databases, but it can present a challenge where industry and company knowledge is concerned. Your DBA should be knowledgeable about your specific business operations and customer experience across your industry. This insight allows them to know what solutions are best suited for your organization’s needs, along with which processes can be automated to improve efficiency and which require special attention.

Database management also goes beyond your specific system. Administrator(s) should have the expertise on various issues and solutions and be on top of new tools, techniques, and infrastructures available. Experience with implementations, integrations, and migrations, along with an understanding of both frustrations and best practices, will keep your organization up-to-date with the latest technologies and offerings.

Having an ‘Accidental DBA’

If you’re wondering how someone would end up with an accidental DBA, it’s easier than you think. With teams stretched for time, database management is all too frequently a task that goes to the team member with the most bandwidth, but not necessarily the right skills for the job. This person may know just enough to handle the basic functions of your database but usually doesn’t have a holistic understanding of your system and how it fits within your enterprise IT environment. This situation can result in various problems, from errors made due to gaps in knowledge and support to unpreparedness in the event of a major emergency.

Not Getting Your ROI

You are likely spending a significant amount of budget on your database management ― make sure you are getting the appropriate returns on that investment! An internal administrator is likely earning a six-figure salary ― a worthwhile investment in this critical technology to be sure. However, there are still other shortcomings to consider as well as additional costs. For instance, if they are absent, you may not have a substitute to cover the system. On the other hand, the cost of a freelance consultant can be comparable to an internal employee with the same lack of backup, and while a consultancy firm has several people handling your database, it will cost you even more.

Finding the right strategy for your database management can be an overwhelming endeavor, but having an awareness of these common errors and being active in avoiding them will set you up for success. Discover what database management solutions are most effective in preventing these and other mistakes with our Database Management Cheat Sheet.

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